On the surface, Power BI looks like an easy to learn Microsoft tool, however what most people think they need to learn is often not even half of what they need. There is so much to learn to be good at using Power BI.
In summary you need to learn the following:
- Data Acquisition: In short, this is the process of fetching your data from wherever it lives, importing it into Power BI while cleaning and shaping it to meet your needs. Power BI has a revolutionary tool built in it to help you do this called Power Query. You get to access this tool from Get Data in the Power BI menu.
- Data Modelling: This is the process of taking your data and turning it into something more useful than just raw data so you can extract the key insights. Power BI has an in-built engine to help you do this. The data modelling language is DAX (Data Analysis and Expressions). Once you learn how to write DAX you will be well on the way to becoming a Power BI expert.
- Data Visualisation: Once you have loaded your data and have the database designed to answer the business questions you have, you then need to visualise the data. Power BI has a brand new visualisation engine that is in a continuous state of improvement.
There is a bit of a hump to get started, but with a small amount of guidance you will be off and running.
About Matt Allington
Matt Allington is a data platform expert and has been training Power BI for more than 5 years. Not all Power BI training is created equal. The training courses on this site are developed by Matt Allington who is a Microsoft MVP specialising in the Microsoft Self Service BI Products. Matt has the ability to transform the seemingly complicated into easy-to-comprehend learning experiences.
Matt is the author of the best selling books Supercharge Power BI and Supercharge Excel.
There are various online learning options to suit your geo-location, time, requirement and level of expertise.
The following are the various service offerings available shown in the table below.
| Skill Area | Instructor Led, Online Training | Video On Demand Online Training |
|---|---|---|
| Building and Sharing Reports – Building in Power BI Desktop and Sharing in Power BI.com | Module 1: Data to Dashboard Using Power BI | Module 1: Foundations of Power BI – Data to Dashboard Online Training |
| Data Modelling – Learn to Write DAX | Module 2: Data Modelling with Power BI and Power Pivot | Module 2: Supercharge Power BI Online Training – Includes live online Q&A sessions |
| Power Query – Data Acquisition, Transformation & Cleansing | Module 3: Power Query Online Training | |
| Data Modelling Advanced Topics – Complex DAX Concepts | Module 4: Demystifying DAX. Intermediate to Advanced | Module 5: Power Up Your DAX Skills – Online course |
Once you have completed your training, Matt can help you with post training coaching and support to help you implement what you have learnt using your own data. See the bottom of this page for more information.
Live Instructor Led Training
Power BI Live Online Training
Matt and his accredited trainers deliver live, instructor led training for different timezones throughout the year. The training runs live, online, for 2 days or 4 half days depending on the timezone.
- Module 1: Data to Dashboard Using Power BI (6.5 CPD hours)
- Module 2: Data Modelling with Power BI (6.5 CPD hours)
At the end of the 2 modules you will be well on you way to becoming a Power BI ninja.
All participants will receive the certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Participants registered for module 2 will receive a copy of Matt’s book “Supercharge Power BI”. If you have a postal address in the USA or Australia, you will receive both a paperback and the eBook. All other countries will receive the eBook (sorry).
Video On Demand Online Training
Power BI Video On Demand Online Training
Supercharge Power BI Video On Demand with live Q&A
As an alternative to the pure video on demand versions of Modules 1&2, you can instead learn from Matt’s book with associated videos and live Q&A sessions. This is a high quality Online Power BI training course that will teach you how to get the most from this tool. Participants of this hands-on Power BI online training program will soon realise there is so much more you can do with Power BI once you learn to write DAX.
This Power BI online training course is a combination of:
- Self-paced remote learning using one of Matt’s books – Supercharge Power BI or Supercharge Excel. (3 hours per week for 6 weeks – 18 CPD hours). The books contain many worked through examples and practice exercises to cement your learning.
- Weekly video based training with examples and demos to support the complex topics in the book. (1 hour per lesson for 5 lessons – 5 CPD hours)
- Weekly live screen sharing Q&A sessions with Matt Allington. (1 hour per week for 5 weeks – 5 CPD hours)
Total CPD hours = 18+5+5 = 28 hours.
This online Power BI training course will teach you how to use the data modelling capabilities in Power BI Desktop.
All participants will receive the certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Supercharge Power BI Online Training details and next semester schedule can be found here.
Power Query Online Training
Power Query is a revolutionary tool to help Power BI Professionals get easy access to the data they need to do their job. Power Query is easy to learn, and you can super charge your learning experience with this Online Training course specifically targeted to you. This is a self-paced course with worked out examples illustrating the concepts. You can use the sample workbooks provided with the course material to follow through the examples and practice yourselves.
You can preview videos and find the course content for Power Query Online Training here.
Module 1: Foundations of Power BI – Data to Dashboard Online Training
Do you want to have a kick-start on using Power BI to create and share reports? Then this is right course for you. You will understand the Power BI Desktop features and learn how to create different types of reports. You will also learn how to share your reports, create Dashboards on Power BI.com, use the Power BI features such as Q&A, Quick Insights, Analyze in Excel, etc. You will also get an introduction on Power Query to load and shape data to put it in the required format for preparing the reports.
You can find the Data to Dashboard Online Training course content and details here.
Other Training Options
Corporate In-House Training
Currently the live, in-house face to face training is on hold due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Feel free to reach out to Matt if you like, but most likely this is on hold for now.
If you want a customised training with your data and/or have more number of people to be trained you can opt for a tailored in-house training course. To discuss your specific needs and understand how this training can help you achieve your goals, contact Matt to discuss today! Give the details in the form provided here.
Remote Help & Support
You may have working knowledge of Power BI but need help from time to time to solve complex business problems and/or create reports with the changing needs. You can get remote help and support in such cases. Read more information here.
Power BI Coaching and Consulting
- Come on-site and meet with the key people in the organisation that want to get started with Power BI. This can be one or more people depending on the circumstances.
- Work with you online remotely anywhere in the world to help you find your way.
- Deliver training to the key Power BI business users so they can learn the skills needed to be successful.